Stump-burner.



F. ROSCHE.

STUMP BURNER. APPLlcATlQN FILED sEPT.25. ma

mama Nov. 6, 191?.

FRANK noscHE, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

STUMP-BURNER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 6*, 1917.

Appli-cation sied september 25, 191e. serial No. 121,919.

To all whom z'z may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK RosoHE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of W'ashingon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stump-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in stump burners, and has for its objects the provision of a sectional stump burner of simple construction that may be readily assembled for use to entirely inclose a stump to be burned, and in which combustion can be maintained at a uniform rate with little attention from the operator.

The invention consists in the novel` construction of the shell or casing of the burner and the novel devices for assembling the component sections together, and in the adaptation and combination therewith of draft and vent flues for equalizing and con trolling the intake of air to maintain combustion and the discharge of the combustion gases, as will be fully described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and linally pointed out in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a stump burner embodying my invention, partly broken away to disclose certain details of the construction. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryview in vertical section along one side of the stump burner illustrated in the preceding views, the edges of the vertical plates being shown. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view in horizontal section illustrating one of the connections between the plates. Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. d. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail View in horizontal section illustrating the usual mode of making connection between the plates. Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of the collar eleme-nt to which the chimney stack is connected.

Referring to said views, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a circular base of cast ironl or the like, formed with twoL spaced upstanding flanges 2 affording a groove 3 therebetween for the reception of the lower edge of the wallv plates compris-A ing the burner casing. of integral construction, formed in sections which may be bolted together as indicated at 5 in Fig. 1.

yThe stump burner casing is formed of a plurality of wall plates 6 adapted to be connected together along their side edges to inclose a substantially circular space. The lower major portions of said plates are intended to be substantially vertical while their upper portions 7 are bent inwardly and formed with their side edges in converging angular relation terminating in an upwardly bent vertical portion 8 constituting the throat of the burner, wherewith the vent or smoke-stack is connected, as will be more particularly described.

The lower extremities of said plates are inserted in saidgrooves 3 of the base 1 and are secured therein by pins 10 extending through registering holesin said base flanges 2 and the lower edges of the plates. The upper extremities of said plates consisting in the vertically arranged portions 8, are secured exteriorly about a circular collar or thimble 11 through a circuinscribing band 12 formed with spaced apertured lugs 13 at its opposite extremities and which is compressed about said portions by means of nut and bolt 15 extending through the apertures of said lugs 13 in a well-understood manner.

Said collar 11 is formed with a laterally extending flange 16 which rests upon the top of said extremities 8 and thereabove is provided with an extension 17 to which the smokestack 18 is secured.

One of the side edges of the wall plates 6 is retained in its normal plane condition, whereas the opposite and corresponding edge on each of the plates is provided with longitudinally arranged strips 20 and 21 upon the inner and outer sides of such edge, respectively, and which are firmly secured thereto by rivets 22. Said strips are ex- Said base may beA but is preferably lsecured at one edge,

tended beyond the edge of the respective plate to afford a groove therebetween for the reception of the opposing or plain edge of the next adjacent wall plate.

To afford space for the insertion of said plate within the grooves, one of said strips may be offset from the plate as by shims Q3 (see Fig. 6). To aord a practically airtight joint between the meeting edges of said wall plates, packing strips Z5 of some fireproof material such as asbestos, may be inserted in the grooves formed by said strips and 21 against lwhich the said plain edges of the wall plates are pressed. Said plates are retained together in operative condition through the employment of releasable latches indicated generally by the numeral 26, and may be of any approved or suitable construction; the form employed and preferred 'by me consists, as illustrated, in a hook member 27 hingedly secured to one of the plate edges, as atV 28, which is arranged to engage a projecting pin, as 30, rigidly secured to the opposite wall plate. A plurality of 'these connections are provided on each of said wall plates sufficient tol retain the whole in assembled operative condition.

In assembling the stump burner, as described, diiiiculty would be encountered in making the interfltting connection between round diffithe meeting edges of the last plates to out the structure. To overcome such Vculty, one pair of plates in each group to form a stump burner is provided with somewhat differently constructed edge-connections, as illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to said views, wherein like parts are indicated with similar reference numerals, it will be seen that but one strip 31 is employed, and it is positioned upon the outside of the respective edge of the plate, while the opposite plate edge is provided with a plurality of clips 32 pivotally as at 33, and offset at its opposite extremity so that when swung outwardly in horizontal directions, it will overlie the strip 31 and retain the same in position between said offset portionSQ and the edge of the respect've wall plate, and

= thus maintain the wall plate edges 1n operative position; thus after all the other plates are assembled, the wall plates provided with the just-described connecting devices may be inserted and connected t0- gether, thus completing the structure in a simple and practical manner.

Said base plate 1, or one of the individual sections thereof, may be formed with a. depending collar 35, with which an elbow portion 556 of a draft pipe 37 may be secured. Said draft pipe beyond said elbow portion extends vertically upward for a distance approximating two-thirds of the totalheight ofthe stump burnerproper and the smokestack 18.

Dampers 3S of any suitable type may be inserted in the draft pipe or smokestack, but are not usually required with a construction of the type described.

Certain of said wall plates 6 are provided with openings which are normally closedvwith `doors i() and il which are positioned, where they are most convenient for observation of lthe workings within the burner, and for kindling the fire therein.

In operation, the base 1 is positioned about a stump to be burned encircling the same, and the earth thereabout leveled up or down to make a substantially air-tight connection. The ground in proximity of the collar is dug away to allow the same to be operatively positioned and to afford a communicating trench between the interior edge of said collar and thefire chamber within the stump burn er ca sing. Such trench also affords a desirably low inlet for the air at the base of the stump, which assists in directing the combustion upon the stump into the roots thereof and assists materially in the rapid consumption thereof.V

The wall plates 6 arefthen assembled together in the base 1 and secured therein at their upper extremity by means of the strap 1Q. rThe smokestack 18 and draft pipe 37 being connected therewith in the inanner shown and described, completes the as sembly of the operative stumpburner and the same is then ready for operation. The door 41 being open, a fire may be kindled within the interior chamber with su'liicient fuel added to start an active combustion and a relatively high temperature in all parts of the stump burner. Said door and all other openings with the exception of said draft pipe and smokestack being closed, relatively uniform conditions suitable for the maintenance of combustion will continue within the stump burner for an indefinite period or until the sti'unp is consumed and with practically no attention from the operator. Such results are due to a very large extent to the arrangement and relationship of the draft pipe 37 and the smokestack 18.

lt is found by experiment that where the air to support combustion is controlled by means of dampers or the like, it is extremely diflicult to maintain the temperature within the stump burner at anything like a uniform heat; that the inflammable material within the burner burns so fast that the heat generated is too great for the materials comprising the stump burner itself to withstand, and will die down and expire, or that it is dii cult to maintain any combustive temperature at all without the repeated addition of fuel.

By the provision of a relatively high structure including the burner proper and the smokestack 1,8 thus creating a decided then apparently without cause adapted tendency for the heated airA to travel therethrough, and by the provision of a relatively long column, as in the draft pipe 37, for the intake air to travel downwardly into the lower portions of the stump burner, a very desirable and happy solution of the problem of maintaining combustion within a stump burner of the character described at an equable rate is provided.

It .is found that there is a relationship between the upward column of air and the downward column of air in the escaping gases and the intake air respectivelythat, when found, constitutes practically a balance with, of course, the 11p-going current having somewhat the preponderancy. The proper said relationship has been determined by experiment to be reached when the draft pipe is approximately two-thirds of. the total height ot the burner and smokestack, and when thus arranged and assembled, combustion will be maintained within the stump burner chamber at a luniform rate as long as there is material within the stump burner to be consumed.

I claim l. A stump burner consisting in a base adapted to make substantially air-tight connection with the earth about a stump to be burned, a casing adapted to be detachably secured to said base, said casing including a plurality of vertically arranged plates, means carried by one edge of each plate to overlie the adjacent edge of the next plate, operating locking means carried by the adjacent edges of the plates, a smokestack mounted on said casing and extending in vertical directions, a collar dependently attached to said base, and a draft-pipe having its lower end secured in said collar and extending in vertical directions.

2. A stump burner consisting in aV base adapted to make substantially air-tight connection with the earth about a stump to be burned, a casing adapted to be detachably secured to said base, said casing including a plurality of vertically arranged plates, means carried by one edge of each plate to overlie the adjacent edge of the next plate, operating locking means carried by the adjacent edges of the plates, a smokestack mounted on said casing and extending in vertical directions, a collar dependently attached to said base, a draft-pipe having its lower end secured in said collar and extending in vertical direct-ions to a height approximately two-thirds of the combined height of said casing and smokestack.

3. A stump burner consisting in a base to make substantially air-tight connection with the earth about a stump to be burned, a sectional casing comprised of a plurality of vertically arranged plates adapted to be detachably secured to said base and to each other along their vertical side edges, the said edge connection includ'- ing a pair of strips fixed to opposite sides of the plate edge forming a U-shaped channel for the reception of the adjacent plate edge, a smokestack mounted on said casing ing a pair of strips iixed to opposite sides of the plate edge forming a U-shaped channel for the reception of the adjacent plate edge, a smokestack mounted on said extending in vertical directions, a collar dependently attached to said base, and a draft-y pipe having its lower `end secured in said collar and extending in vertical directions to a height approximately two-thirds of the combined height of said casing and smokestack.

5. In a stump burner of the class described, a circular base plate, wall-plates adapted to be secured at their lower ends to said base, one edge of said wall-plates having strips secured upon its opposite sidesV extending outwardly to aiiord a groove therebetween to receivethe opposite plain edge or' the next adjacent wall-plate, releasable means for securing said edges together, the upper ends of said wall-plates having reduced extremities, a smokestack secured to the upper end of said wall-plates, and a draft-pipe comnfiunicatively connected with the interior of said burner, said draft-pipe being approximately two-thirds the total height of the combined burner and smokestack.

S. In a stump burner of the class described, a circular base plate, wall-plates adapted to be secured at their lower ends to said base, one edge of said wall-plates having strips secured upon its opposite sides extending outwardly to afford a groove therebetween to receive the opposite plain edge `of the next adjacent wall-plate, releasable means for securing said edges together, the upper ends of said wall-plates having reduced extremities, a smokestack secured to the upper end of said wall-plates, a depending thimble associated with said base, and a draft-pipe secured in said thimble and communicatively connected with the interior of said burner, said draft-pipe being approximately two-thirds the total height of the.` combined burner and smokestack.

' In a stump burner of the class decasing and e scribed, a circular base plate, wall-plates adapted to be secured at their lowerA ends to said base, one edge of said wall-plates having strips secured upon its opposite sides extending outwardly `to afford a groove therebetween to receive the opposite plain edge of the .next adjacent wall-plate, releasable means for securing said edges together, the upper ends of said wall-plates having reduced extremities, a flanged collar fitted intericrly of said extremities, a band secured about said extremities to bind the same to said collar, a smokestack, said collar providing means to connect said smokestack to the burner, and a draft-pipe communicatively connected with the interior of said burner, said draft-pipe being approximately two-thirds the total height of the combined burner and smokestack.

8. ln a stump burner of the class described, a circular base plate formed with upstanding spaced apertured flanges, wallplates adapted to be secured at their lower' ends between said flanges in circular relation and provided with holes registering with the apertures of said flanges, pins adapted to secure said plates to said base, one edge of said wall-plates having strips secured upon its opposite sides extending outwardly to allcrd a groove therebetween to receive the opposite plain edge of the next adjacent wall-plate, releasable means for securing said edges together, the upper ends of said wall-plates having reduced extremities, a smokestack secured to the upper end of said wall-plates, and a draft-pipe communicatively connected with the interior of said burner, said draft-pipe being approximately two-thirds the total heig'it of the combined burner and smokestaclr.

9. In va stump burner of the class described`v a circular base plate, wall-plates adapted to be secured at their lower ends tol said base, one edge of said wall-plates having strips secured upon its opposite sides extending outwardlyT to aord a groove therebetween to receive the opposite plain edge of the next adjacent wall-plate, releasable means for securing said edges together, the upper ends of said wall-plates having reduced extremities, a anged collar fitted interiorly of said extremities, a band secured about said extremities to bind the same to said collar, a sinokestack secured to the upper end of said wall-plates, said collar providing .means to connect said smokestaclr to the burner, a depending thimble associated with said base, and a draft-pipe secured in said thimble and communicatively connected with the interior of said burner, said draft-pipe being approximately twothirds the total height of the combined burner and smokestack.

l0. ln a stump burner of the class described, a circular basekplate formed with edge of the next upstanding spaced apertured flanges, wallplates adapted to be secured at their lower ends to said base between said flanges in circular relation and provided with holes registering with the apertures of said flanges, pins adapted to secure said plates to said base, one edge of said wall-plates having strips secured upon its opposite sides extending outwardly to afford a. groove therebetween to receive the opposite plain edge of the next adjacent wall-plate, releasable means for securing said edges together, the upper ends of said wall-plates having reduced extremities, a smokestaclr secured to the upper end of said wall-plates, a depending thimble associated with said base, and a draft-pipe secured in said thimble and comniunicatively connected wit-h the interior of said burner, said draft-pipe being approximately two-thirds the total height of the combined burner and smokestacl.

l1. In a stump burner of the class described, a circular base plate formed with upstanding spaced apertured flanges, wallplates adapted to be secured at their lower ends to said base between said flanges `in circular relation and provided with holes registering with the apertures of said flanges, pins adapted to secure said. plates to said base, one edge of said wall-plates having strips secured upon its opposite sides extending outwardly to afford a groove ther between to receive the opposite plain adjacent wall-plate, releasable nieans for securing said edges together, the upper ends of said wall-plates having reduced extremities, a flanged collar fitted interiorly of said extremities, a band secured about said extremities to bind the same to said collar, a smokestaclr, said collary providing means to connect said smokestack to the burner, and a draft-pipe communicatiif'ely connected with the interior of said burner, said draft-pipe being approximately twothirds the total height of the combined burner and smokestack.

' 12. In a stump burner of the class described, a circular base plate formed with upstanding spaced apertured flanges, wallplates adapted to be secured at their lower ends between said flanges in circular relation and provided with holes registering with the apertures of said flanges, pins adapted to secure said plates to said base, one edge of said wall-plates having strips secured upon its opposite sides extending outwardly to afford a groove therebetween to receive the opposite plain edge of the next adjacent wall-plate, releasable means for securing said edges together, the upper ends of said wall-plates having reduced extremities, a flanged collar fitted interiorly of said extremities, a band secured about said extremities to bind the same to said collar, a smokestack, said collar yproviding means to coniso CIT

neet said smokestaek to the burner, a depending thimble associated with said base, and a draft-pipe secured in seid thimble and communicatively connected with the interior of said burner, said draft-pipe being approximately two-thirds the total height oi' the combined burner and smokestaek.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Signed at Seattle, day of August 1916.

FRANK ROSCHE.

Washington, this 25th Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

